Mad Garden – Seeds & Nursery

Diverse, resilient, and ecologically beneficial plants – for improving your ecosystem in the Eastern US & beyond.

About Mad Garden

Here you will find Native, food-producing trees and shrubs to enhance your natural habitat; Diverse crop seed mixes selected to thrive in low-input, low-maintenance, and sustainable systems; and more. A certified nursery in located in New Jersey, Mad Garden is also collection of eastern North America’s most talented plants. I hope these offerings inspire your garden to take on a life of its own!

Devon A. Viola

Native Plants and More Shipped Directly to Your Door

The purpose of Mad Garden is to propagate plants that thrive in natural conditions and give more to the ecosystem than they take— enabling gardeners to do the same. All products are available for shipping throughout the US, except where restricted by state regulations. Many of the plants are marked by their place of origin in the name or description. Note that all seedlings and plants are shipped bare-root.

What’s New?

Mad Garden seeds and nursery began as an idea in 2023. In 2024 I gained access to ¼ acre of land next to the organic vegetable farm where I worked, and that became the home base where I carry out the work of a squirrel: obsessively collecting and planting seeds. The resulting products are now offered on this website, which launched in August 2025. Please enjoy this curated selection of seeds and seedlings, and remember to check back for new additions in the future!

F.A.Q.

How do I plant bare root trees?

Check out this graphic for how to transplant bare root seedlings. If you are planting in an area with significant deer pressure, use deer protection such as a fence or tree tube.

After planting outdoors in appropriate conditions, the trees shoud require minimal care. Irrigation and fertilizer are unnecessary unless your soil is significantly different from the recommended conditions for that species.

How do I know which shipping week to choose for bare root trees?

Schedule your order so you can transplant the trees as soon as possible after you receive them. The trees should still be dormant when you plant them. Depending on your zone you may have to complete fall planting before the ground freezes solid, or begin Spring planting after the ground thaws.

If you need to store the bare-root seedlings for a few days, you can put the roots in a bucket of water or just cover them with damp newspaper. If you need to store the bare-root seedlings for an extended time before transplanting, put them in a pot or bucket, cover the roots with soil, and store them in a cold but sheltered place such as an unheated garage.

Can I pick up an order in person / Can I visit the nursery?

If you would like to place an order to pick up in person at the nursery in Mercer County, NJ, please write your order in an email to [email protected]. The nursery does not have a store front, but if you would like to arrange a visit please reach out via email.

Do you ship to (insert country)?

Shipping is only to the United States. Some products are also affected by additional state restrictions.

Do you have any (insert seed/species/variety?)

The collection of seeds and plants represented on this website is always changing and expanding. If you are looking for something not listed, please feel free to reach out. Keep in mind that finding and acquiring new varieties is time-consuming, and I am more likely to do so if you are trying to purchase a large quantity.